Magazine of the Theosophical Society (Pasadena) Australasian Section No: 141 September 2021

THE POWER OF SOUND

What are Mantras?  Thoughts on a Quote from Tolstoy’s, ‘War and Peace’  Mantras: Holy Prayers, Sounds, Chanting the Names of Divinity, and Stories of God(s)  AUM (Om): The Word Sound and Vibration in Traditional Societies: Australia and Africa  The Seven Jewels of Wisdom: REN’ (‘The Name’): The Power of Speech  The Virtue of Courage 28

3 What are Mantras? 5 The Potency of Sound – G de Purucker. 8 Thoughts on a Quote from Tolstoy’s, ‘War and Peace’ – Amanda F. Rooke. 10 Mantras: Holy Prayers, Sounds, Chanting the Names of Divinity, and Stories of God(s). 18 AUM (Om): The Word - Graeme Edge. 19 Sound and Vibration in Traditional Societies: Australia and Africa. 8 20 The Seven Jewels of Wisdom: Reincarnation, Karma, Hierarchies, Self-Becoming, Evolution, Two Paths, Knowledge of the Self - The First Jewel: Reincarnation. 22 Better Health: • Qi Gong Classes. • Sleep and Depression. 24 ‘REN’ (‘The Name’): The Power of Speech - Normandi Ellis. 28 The Virtue of Courage – James Feinstein. 19 29 News 31 Book Reviews: • The Goddess Re-Awakening: The Feminine Principle Today. Compiled by Shirley Nicholson. Reviewed by Niamh O’Byrne. • Every time I Find the Meaning of Life: They Change It. By Daniel Klein. Reviewed by Tony Downey. 35 Religions in a Nutshell: The Religions of Japan: Complete back Shinto and Zen. issues to the year 2000 available 39 Obituary: Marjorie Maud Downey. 10 at our website: 39 Letters to the Editor: www.theosophy- • How Can I Meditate or Chant Mantras in this downunder.org Hectic Modern World? -Krishna Das. All contributions • Soul versus Spirit – Eugene Harris. on Theosophy or • Lockdown Amplifies the Simple Sounds - Jennifer related subjects Pignataro. • Waiting for a Sign. are welcome.

2 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 WHAT ARE MANTRAS?

n this issue several authors look at sacred sounds, including ‘Mantras’, and how they can be applied to assist in building a better, more enlightened world. Theosophical teacher, G de Purucker, Iwrites of ‘The Potency of Sound’ and vibration including the famous mantra, ‘AUM (Om)’, and the use of vibration by the Hierarchy of Light to protect mankind with the mysterious ‘Guardian Wall’. Graeme Edge and James Feinstein put a poetic perspective on the powers of sound. Normandi Ellis turns our mind to the wisdom of the ancient Egyptians and their profound knowledge of the power of the ‘Name’. Our feature article deals in depth with ‘Mantras, Holy Prayers, Sounds, Chanting the Names of Divinity and Stories of the God(s) and Goddess(s)’.

But what are Mantras from a theosophical point of view? “Mantra (Sanskrit) Mantra. That portion of the Vedas which consist of hymns as distinct from the Brahmana and Upanishad portions. The mantras considered esoterically were originally as magical as they were religious in character, although the former today is virtually forgotten, although remembered as a fact which once was. In the composing of the mantras the rishis (sages) of old knew that every letter had its occult significance, and that the vowels especially contain occult and even formidable potencies when properly chanted. The words of the

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 3 mantra were made to convey a certain hid meaning by certain secret rules involving first the secret potency of their sound, and incidentally the numerical value of the letters; the latter however was relatively unimportant. Hence their merely verbal significance is something quite different from their meaning as understood of old. The language of incantations or mantras is the element-language composed of sounds, numbers, and figures. He who knows how to blend the three will call forth the response from the regent-god of the specific element needed. For, in order to communicate with the gods, men must learn to address each one of them in the language of his element. Sound is “the most potent and effectual magic agent, and the first of the keys which opens the door of communication between Mortals and the Immortals” (SD 1:464)…” – from the Encyclopedic Theosophic Glossary at: https://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/etgloss/man-mar.htm Let’s go ahead and look at what ‘the divine potency of sound’ means in detail.  As always, your feedback plus is always welcome to: [email protected]

The concept that the manifest universe is built of varying levels of vibration was well-known in the mystery schools of the ancient world. From atoms to suns, each entity sings its own keynote of life, and by sounds inaudible to our ears because of their magnitude, follow their paths of destiny.

– Mysteries of Music: Part 1: The Ancient World (2017); Theosophy Downunder Website

4 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 THE POWER OF SOUND

– G. de Purucker as H.P.B. phrases it, "I am in Thee, and Thou art in me." When intoned with an understanding of what he Mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum: In the it represents, and with a yearning of the heart and Tibetan Buddhist mantra, Om Mani Padme mind always toward union with the divine within, Hum, Om, the Jewel in the Lotus, the lotus it has a strong effect in purifying one's channels of Tflower is the human being, the soul, likewise the en- thought and keeping one's aspirations constantly tire constitution of man; more accurately, his auric alive. egg with its different layers of substance combined each with the others, like the closed petals of the lo- The Mystical Significance of ‘AUM’: As to the tus flower. The jewel within the lotus is the diamond pronunciation and significance of this mystic heart, the ‘Vajradhara’, as the initiate of ancient days syllable OM or AUM: either way of writing this was called — a mystical term signifying the word in European characters is correct, and the expression in action of the inner god, the meaning is practically identic. divine radiance or flame, sparkling, The pronunciation, however, is not glorifying, and vivifying the one the same. OM is pronounced O-M, through whom it shines. but AUM is A-U-M, the two It is small wonder that Tibetans of vowels being sounded distinctly, all classes, whether quasi-initiates and the M in both cases sounded or merely the vast rank and file vibrating within the skull. The of the populace, have cherished sectarian, modern Brahmanical this invocation and recite it with the spiritual longing arising in the aspiring soul. It is a way of saying, just The Sanskrit character for the sound ‘Aum’

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 5 devotee will say that AUM is emblematic of the themselves all useless. What is important is to know, three persons of the Hindu triad, Brahma, Vishnu, and knowing to do. and Siva; but this is a lame attempt to explain in what we may call ecclesiastic fashion something Sound - The Language of the Gods: To one who more profound. knows, sound is perhaps the most important factor A-U-M — spelling and pronunciation and sound in cosmic workings. As H.P.B. has written in her — is the higher form of the word, and is perhaps Secret Doctrine (I, 464), the "magic of the ancient the more effective when one knows how properly priests consisted, in those days, in addressing their to sound it; OM is the simpler of the two, and in the gods in their own language … sound being the most beginning equally effective. potent and effectual magic agent, and the first of the keys which opens the door of communication The vowel O, or the fluid diphthong A-U, combined between Mortals and the Immortals." Verily it is with the sounding of the M within the skull, have a so. We must learn to talk the language of the gods particularly strong effect upon the human aura; and before we can confabulate with them; learn to when the aspiration is high, and the heart lifted with control the elemental beings before we have mastery reverence and love, and the mind itself is allied with over them. We must learn to reach the hearts of our the sun, the influence of the 'sounding of the word' fellow humans before we can ever help them. And can be very great. It stills, calms, and refines the this speaking the language that is understood is, entire sphere of the auric egg, so that the differing above everything else, through the instrumentality vibrational periods in separate portions of the auric of sound, the great magic agent in the universe. egg are reduced to one harmony. Then the inflow For everything that is, great and small, visible and from the god within is easy; and, at such times, a invisible, sings a song of life, and this is its vital man may receive the very inspiration of divinity. keynote; and if one can strike that keynote, he has mastery over it. The Jews also had a word of somewhat similar But let us beware of black magic, and touch not the character, used by their initiates in much the same individuality or destiny of any other than ourself. way, and this was 'Amen — the common Amen. The magic potency of sound is widely known. Political orators, the orators in the churches, sway More important than the correct pronunciation the hearts and minds of multitudes, and do it not is the sounding of the word. That verily can work necessarily by words, though greatly by words at magic if rightly done: its correct pronunciation times, but by sound and intonation. combined with the proper reverberating resonant Those who teach the Law, the Dharma, however, sounding made by one who understands, works use the wisdom and knowledge that have been magically. It is the physical sound of this sacred placed in their hands as a sacred trust. It is by sound word which is used in the art of practical magic more than by words that the messages of truth and solely for the purpose of tranquillizing the atoms, wisdom are carried into our consciousness through as far as it is possible for that sound to do this. As I the crevices and crannies of the armour of personal have said, when uttered by one who knows how to selfhood built around the soul. do it and who understands the meaning of the act, its power is very great; it tranquillizes and soothes The Guardian Wall: I might add that the members the entire auric envelope, and makes much easier of the Brotherhood are continuously acting as a the passage of the soaring soul up towards the spirit Guardian Wall shielding, protecting, mankind from and back to the human consciousness. dangers of cosmic and terrestrial character. The Let us remember this, however, that it is not the method used by these Great Ones is to 'sing' these senseless repetition of words that will do anybody dangers away from us, through the Akasa — by any good. The pattering of prayers would be of sound. Now please do not misinterpret these words equal value. The singing of hymns and the chanting and picture a row of the Great Teachers standing of chants and the muttering of mantras are in there, clad in white garments, and opening their

6 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 Sound is a form of radiation. Radiation is but a form of sound. It was no vain way of speaking, when some of the ancient European peoples told us that their mouths and yelling and bellowing and squawking ancient magicians sang the storms away, and squealing, as we human beings sometimes do and speak of it as singing! The singing may be sang diseases away, sang men into health utterly soundless to our ears, but it is a song, a song and sanity, sang men into goodness and of which the mystics spoke, charming the evil away — charming means here to sing, to chant, to 'sound' wisdom. it away. – G de Purucker from, The Fountain-Source of Occultism, Appendix II: Pages 674-677. Now what are these dangers? Let us not think for a moment that they are only material. No; they are of many kinds: spiritual, intellectual, psychical, astral, physical. They are cosmic dangers reaching our earth from outside, from other planets of the kinds and on all planes. Incidentally, one of the solar system, and from dead planets, our moon greatest of these that we human beings are facing in particular, and the so-called Eighth Sphere or in our own era is the psychical crazes which are Planet of Death. Indeed, there are in constant sweeping over the world, distracting our minds movement along the circulations of the solar and diverting us from the thoughts of spirit, of system, rivers of lives having as much right to spirituality. This is a psychical danger, which is be as we have; but inimical to us in our present fraught with tremendous perils because it can evolutionary state, or dangerous at least, mislead human souls. and which, if they could enter our earth's atmosphere and impinge The Power of Sound: But let us upon us, would wipe out the remember always that we are human race overnight. Not a protected by song, by sound, single human being would be albeit the most powerful sounds left alive upon the earth when are those which are inaudible to morning came. us. The sounds which the human ear can take in, on account of We humans are pilgrims; we its present imperfections, are are not forever and unto eternity but a small part of the octaves chained to our globe, nor linked to of vibration. The greater by far is our planetary chain. We are transients the inaudible sound. The Music of the here, although our sojourn is of an exceedingly Spheres, for instance, is so immense that our long time period when judged by human standards. ears cannot take it in. Every smallest atom sings Consequently, there are dangers arising even in this its keynote of life as it lives. It is thus by sound, planetary chain, and therefore in globe D [ie, our inaudible to us, that it grows; it is thus by sound, Earth] of it, which could be highly inimical to man's inaudible to us because of its magnitude, that well-being were they allowed to impinge upon the planets and the suns follow their pathways of us without a shield or barrier of some sort. These destiny, and weave their web of being and so grow are the terrestrial hazards, and they are of many to grander things. 

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 7 friend recently sent me this beautiful quote from the great Russian writer, Count Leo (Lev) Tolstoy: THOUGHTS A"You say you can't see the kingdom of the good and the true on earth. I didn't see it either; and it can't be seen if you look at our life as the end ON A QUOTE of everything. On earth, I mean this earth...there is no truth--everything is falsehood and evil; but in the universe, in the whole universe, there is a kingdom of the true, and we are now children FROM of the earth, but eternally--children of the whole universe. Don't I feel in my soul that I make up a part of that huge, harmonious whole? TOLSTOY’S: Don't I feel that among the countless number of beings in which the divinity--the higher power- -whatever you like--is manifest, I make up one WAR AND link, one step from lower beings to higher? If I see, see clearly, this ladder that leads from plant to man, then why should I suppose that PEACE this ladder, the lower end of which I do not see, is lost in the plants? Why should I suppose – Amanda F. Rooke. that this ladder stops with me and does not lead further and further to higher beings? I feel not only that I cannot disappear, as nothing disappears in the world, but that I will always be and have always been. I feel that, besides me, above me, spirits live, and that in this world there is truth."

To this I responded: Marvellous! Tolstoy sounds like a Theosophist, he so beautifully put into writing the doctrine of spiritual evolution, of the consciousness underlying the many kingdoms of nature. Our imperfect understanding in the World, the higher power’s infilling of the Outer, by the Inner. I dreamed a mental picture of the plants twining their stems around the sides and rungs of my friend’s garden-ladder, climbing their way along the upward path! Of course, they'd change into the next-highest life-form as they went. Sometimes I think one has glimpses of universal consciousness at work in the plants and animals. My friend lives in an idyllic semi-rural area beside a creek - you sit on the back veranda and hear the creek’s soothing burbling as it drifts towards its far-distant destination. One

8 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 afternoon I sat there listening to the noisy minor-birds dipping and dashing over the surface of the water above a hollow between the river-stones on its shallow bed. It was a very hot day, the sunlight glittered on water, leaves, and stones. Walkers and cyclists drifted by on the opposite bank. But the concrete paving of the backyard had a big crack in it, like a huge chunk of earth was about to drop into the cavity of the flood-line of the creek bed. The scoria-rocks of the retaining wall on the other side of the yard bulged outward toward the creek. We feared the house would slip into the creek - a not unfounded fear.

However, the REAL/ Inner Vision came when we wondered, why the birds kept skimming that part of the river-bed. We saw an "inanimate" vine using the breath of the wind to move it towards a nearby branch of another tree as if unconsciously searching for another branch to move itself onto. It seemed that it used the Earth’s very breath of life to move itself. If that was so, it was extraordinary to observe.

The OUTER/Worldly Vision then came in the realisation that the car needed filling with the minimum of fuel and there were jobs to go to the next day. The concerns of this world flooded back, which was the way it should be. That's my take on what Tolstoy wrote so beautifully. How strange, it was more than words, the words became warm, glowing, calm, breezes and surroundings! Thanks to the great author, Leo Tolstoy, for this beautiful piece of writing that acted like a window to somewhere else, or the wax covering on a cell full of honey in a bees' honeycomb: Thus, both the Inner and Outer visions combined both the beauty of the inner “kingdom” of the ideal, and the relative imperfection, of our outer reality. The reflection, as we’ve perceived it, in our outer, imperfect, “There’s a crack in everything, reality, the perfect infilling the imperfect, according to our enlightened perception of its that’s how the Light gets in.” inner, silent, “Thereness”.  – Leonard Cohen. – Amanda F. Rooke, Melbourne, Australia.

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 9 MANTRAS, HOLY PRAYERS, SOUNDS, CHANTING THE NAMES OF DIVINITY, AND STORIES OF GOD(S)

10 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 ll of us are aware of the effect music can have on us. A mother humming or singing lullabies to get a baby to Asleep, background music at work, in lifts, or the supermarket; rock music energizing huge crowds at stadium concerts; dance, hip hop, and rap music at rave parties and night-clubs; all show us the hidden power of music and vibration to move us. Holy prayers, sounds, chanting the name of divinity, or stories of God(s) are a feature of religious practice all over the world. From the rhythmic drumming of a Siberian shaman through to the harmonies of the Kings Choir in a London church, we all know that music has a • the secret potency of their sound, power to spiritually move us and help us find a • the numerical value of the letters; stillness within the Buddhists call ‘Mindfulness’ The language of incantations or mantras is amidst the stresses of life in the modern world. the element-language composed of sounds, In India such holy chanting is called ‘Mantras’ numbers, and figures. The ancients who derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Manas’ composed the mantras, knew how to blend meaning ‘to think’ and ‘Tra’ meaning these three to call forth the response from the ‘instrumentality’, therefore Mantra originally Regent-God of the specific element needed. meant ‘the instrument of thought’. This gives the clue that mantras can affect the mind and mood COMMUNICATION in dramatic ways if performed accurately. WITH OTHER DIMENSIONS For, in order to communicate with the Gods/ MANTRAS: SACRED SOUNDS Goddesses, it was said that men must learn to The earliest mantras were composed in Vedic address each one of them in the language of His/ Sanskrit in India, and are at least 3500 years Her element.: old. Mantras now exist in various schools of Sound is “the most potent and effectual magic Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. agent, and the first of the keys which opens the In the Japanese Shingon tradition, the word door of communication between Mortals and Shingon means mantra. Similar hymns, the Immortals” (from HP Blavatsky: The Secret chants, compositions, and concepts are found Doctrine Vol.1: page 464). in Zoroastrianism, Taoism, Christianity, and The hidden voice or active manifestation of the elsewhere. The Scandinavian Runes in certain latent occult potency of the mantras is called respects correspond to the Hindu mantras. ‘Vach’ meaning in Sanskrit, ‘Voice’. In exercising Mantras considered esoterically were originally the power of Vach, G de Purucker says: as magical as they were religious in character. “…The would-be magician attempting to evoke In the composing of the mantras, the wise the “spirits of the vasty deep” by uninstructed men/women of old knew that every letter had chanting or singing of any ancient mantras will its occult significance, and that the vowels, never succeed in using the mantras effectively especially, contain occult and even formidable in a magical way, until he himself has become potencies when properly chanted. so cleansed of all human impurities as to be The words of the mantra were made to convey able at will and with inner vision to enter into a certain hid meaning by certain secret rules communion if not direct confabulation with the involving: inner realms…”

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 11 PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS be resonant with numinous (religiously awe- Mantras are based on specific repetitive sounds. inspiring) qualities. Mantra’s use these repetitive sounds to reach the subconscious mind. The sounds are At its simplest, the word (Aum, Om) serves soothing, they calm the mind, even if we do as a mantra, it is believed to be the first sound not understand fully understand the phrases – which was originated on Earth. The Aum sound which is most often the case for us Westerners when produced creates a reverberation in the when listening to Indian Mantras! Of course, body which helps the body and mind to be translating a mantra into your own language, calm. The Aum sound is most often repeated at gives a much greater depth to the experience of the beginning and end of chanting to create and repeating the mantra in its original language – sustain peace in the audience. you have an affirmation where the words have There is a whole mystical science attached to the the additional benefit of imparting a sense of meaning and use of the sacred word Aum (Om). confidence with time when repeated. While mantras are often thought of in reference to eastern religions, by no means is this the only place you have mantras. Often repeated Catholic and Christian prayers are also mantras. All repeated and spoken phrases in the English (or any) language can be thought of as mantras. Commonly known as “affirmations” these mantras are repeated for the purpose of building confidence, quieting anxiety or trying to take advantage of the brain’s capacity to adapt itself to new habits of thought (neuroplasticity). Daily mantras can help quiet anxiety and counter depression. They can help to boost happiness, help to inspire self-confidence, but constant practice and therefore repetition is required. According to the Annual Review of Nursing Research, mental health mantras can be used JAPA: SILENT REPETITION effectively to treat Post-Traumatic Stress In more sophisticated forms, mantras are Syndrome (PTSD), reduce stress, and even melodic phrases with spiritual interpretations decrease blood pressure. such as a human longing for truth, reality, light, Here are some of the traditional types of immortality, peace, love, knowledge, and action. Sanskrit mantra’s: Some mantras without literal meaning are Shanti – Peace; Dharma – Righteous Path; musically uplifting and spiritually meaningful. Ananda – Bliss; Prasada – Radiance or Repeating Mantras quietly to yourself is called Happiness; Prajna – Wisdom; Bhakti – Japa. It is most auspicious to repeat them at least Devotion, Faith, and Love. 108 times and for this purpose private repetition of mantras is assisted by 108 beads on a string, AUM (OM): THE SACRED SOUND Malas, which are handled as you repeat the Mantras come in many forms, including verses mantra. from the ancient Vedic book, the Rigveda, and Any verse of the sacred scriptures such as the Rig Sāman, musical chants from the Sāmaveda Veda, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, can be repeated. for example. They are typically melodic, The most auspicious mantras for Japa are said mathematically structured meters, believed to to be the Gayatri Mantram and the Purusasukta

12 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 mantras both verses from the Rig Veda. They are Translation: “Unveil, O Thou who givest best repeated at sunrise and sunset. sustenance to the Universe, from whom all proceed, to whom all must return, that face THE GAYATRI MANTRA of the True Sun now hidden by a vase of divine The most universally chanted of all Hindu mantras. light, that we may see the truth and do our Dedicated to Savitur, the Vedic Sun God, Gayatri whole duty on our journey to thy sacred seat.” is also the name of the Goddess of the Vedantic – WQ Judge translation. Mantra in which the verse is composed. Hindus are supposed to chant it at least 108 times per BUDDHIST MANTRA: day to help purify their inner constitutions from OM MANI PADME HUM low vibrations which well up from within and are Probably the most famous mantra of Buddhism is: imposed by society from without. Invoking the ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ meaning ‘Om the Jewel universal Brahman as the principle of knowledge in the Lotus, Hum’ and the illumination of the primordial Sun, the mantra is extracted from the 10th verse of Hymn The six-syllable mantra of the Bodhisattva 62 in Book III of the Rig Veda: of Compassion, Avalokitesvara, (Tibetan, Chenrezig, Chinese: Guanyin). The Dalai Lama Aum is said to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, Bhuh Bhuvah Svah and so the mantra is especially revered by his Tat Savitur Varenyam devotees. In esoteric philosophy Avaloki, the Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi “on-looker”, is the Higher Self, while Padmapani Dhiyo Yo nah Prachodayat is the Higher Ego or Manas. The mystic formula ~ The Rig Veda (10:16:3) “Om mani padme hum” is especially used to invoke their joint help. One of the most sacred Buddhist mantras or verbal formulas; used very frequently in Tibet and in surrounding countries of the Far East. Not only is every syllable said to have a secret power of producing a definite result, but the whole invocation has a number of meanings. When properly pronounced or changed, it produces different results, differing from the others according to the intonation and will give to the formula and its syllables. This mystic sentence above all refers to the indissoluble union between man and the universe, and thus conveys “I am in thee and thou art in me.” Each of us has within himself the ‘Jewel in the Lotus’ or the ‘Divine Self’ within. When understood in a Kosmic sense, it signifies the Divine Kosmic Self within, inspiring all beings within the range of that Kosmic Divinity.

TANTRA AND JAINISM Similar mantras, hymns, chants, compositions, Gayatri Mantra personified as a Goddess. and concepts are found in Zoroastrianism,

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 13 holy book of Sikhs (also known as Adi Granth). All shabads describe God’s attributes, grace and virtues. Through repetition and reflecting upon the qualities of the Divine, the mind rises above materialism and conquers the vices (Lust, Anger, Greed, Attachments and Ego). By continually repeating and contemplating upon Guru’s teachings, the mind is stimulated to create positive thoughts practicing Truth, Contentment, Empathy, Divine Wisdom and Taoism, Judaism, Christianity and elsewhere. Forgiveness. It encourages one to live a practical The use, structure, function, importance, and life with high morale. types of mantras vary according to the school Mantras in Sikhism are fundamentally different and philosophy of Hinduism and Buddhism. from the secret mantras used in other religions. Mantras serve a central role in Tantra. In Unlike in other religions, Sikh mantras are open this school, mantras are considered to be a for anyone to study, use and embed. They are sacred formula and a deeply personal ritual, not used in secret sessions. Instead, they are effective only after initiation. In other schools preached and discussed in front of assemblies or of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism or Sikhism, a congregation of Sikhs and non-Sikhs. initiation is not a requirement and an earnest The Mool Mantar (Fundamental Belief), the first student will be given a mantra suitable for them composition of Guru Granth Sahib, was written individually from their Guru. by the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak. In Jainism for example, the concept of mantras It is the most widely known Sikh mantra. is not focused on material aspects, rather In Sikh faith, the word Wahe Guru (the mainly deals with seeking forgiveness, praising Wonderful Lord) is used repeatedly to thank their Saints (Tirtankharas), or Deities like the Lord for giving us the virtues and guiding Nakoda, Padmavati, Manibhadra, Goddesses us on the righteous path. According to Sikh like Saraswati and Lakhsmi, and others. Some poet, Bhai Gurdas, the word "Wahe Guru" is the mantras are claimed to enhance intellect, Gurmantra mantra given by the Guru, which prosperity, wealth or fame. There are many eliminates negativity and ego from the mind. mantras in Jainism; most of them are in Sanskrit or Prakriti, but in the last few centuries, some have been composed in Hindi or Gujarati languages. Mantras, couplets, are either chanted or sung, either aloud or by merely moving lips or in silence by thought. The most popular mantra in Jainism is the Navkar Mantra (literally, "Nine Line Mantra"). The initial five lines consist of salutations to various sanctified souls, and the latter four lines are explanatory in nature, highlighting the benefits and greatness of this mantra.

SIKHISM In the Sikh religion, the term mantar or mantra refers to Shabad, this may be a word, a sentence or a hymn from the, Guru Granth Sahib – the

14 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 this constantly no matter how we feel. The power of the name is not exclusively in us, but is the vibrationary form of the Divine which connects us all. We are effectively calling out to the Higher Self by calling the Name of Divinity, which may vary according to the society to which we belong. Chanting the Name can extricate ourselves from the trivialities of life, emotions, false beliefs, and so the ‘mirror of our hearts’ is polished. In this way, even though we may be depressed ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY and anxious, we see what is reflected in that The Islamic mystical sect, the Sufis, use the mirror differently and we start to see changes ‘Names of God’ or particular phrases found in ourselves. We start to act differently. The in the Holy Book of Islam, The Quran, or, constant nagging self-critical inner voice starts sayings/actions of the Prophet Mohammed, to fade in the harmony of repeating the Name. The Hadith, in a mantric way, which they call ‘Dhikr’. Of particular importance is the phrase Lā ilaha īlla-Llāh and numerous variations. These words or phrases are often counted on a string of beads called a Tasbih or Misbaha or in Iraq Sibha, similar to a Mala but generally consisting of thirty-three or ninety- nine beads. The recitation of these formulas can be done individually, or in unison in large assemblies with musicians and directed by an elder (Shaikh). Each Sufi Order has its particular formulas and group ceremonials. We tend to think that Mantras are just an Eastern concept and practice but they have BHAKTI YOGA a long tradition in the West for all the same Bhakti (ie Devotional) Yoga, also called Bhakti reasons we see in the East. Repeating a Marga (literally the Path of Bhakti/Devotion), prayer which is familiar to us from our own is a spiritual path or spiritual practice within predominantly Christian culture can also have Hinduism focused on loving devotion towards the same uplifting influence on us. This has a personal god/guru. It is one of the paths in been long recognized in the tradition of church the spiritual practices of Hindus, others being music, monastic chanting such as Gregorian Jnana Yoga (the Path of Spiritual Knowledge) chants, and in Jewish synagogues where the and Karma Yoga (the Path of Good Works). ‘cantor’ leads worshippers in song. Bhakti Yoga, based on chanting or repeating the Name of Divinity is said to be the most suitable MANTRAS: THE IMPORTANCE OF form of spiritual practice for the majority of REPEATING THE NAME OF DIVINITY people during the present Kali Yuga age with its According to American Bhakti (Devotional) many stresses and diversions from the pursuit of Yoga practitioner and teacher, Krishna Das, spiritual knowledge which requires much study, the repetition of the Name of Divinity strikes time, and inner effort not freely available to a deep resonance with the godlike source of most people. strength within oneself so we should practice Chanting the divine names is a simple path

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 15 suitable for the present-day context. It has no combination of Indian and Western instruments ‘binding’ rules and regulations. Nama Kirtan have become enormously popular in America, (chanting the Divine names) can be done by Europe and Australia. anybody, anytime, and anywhere. Krishna Das has attracted the participation of such rock luminaries as ‘Sting’ (of the famous English rock band, ‘Police’), and Walter Becker (of American iconic rock band, ‘Steely Dan’). Before the Covid pandemic, Krishna Das gave concerts all over the world and he is a foundation performer at New Age and especially Bhakti Yoga festivals now held online in the USA. He has released 17 albums since 1996, but his live performances capture the true spirit of Kirtan. I would recommend his live performances on You Tube, particularly his performance at the Church of St Paul and St Andrew in 2013 in New York. This concert is a truly heartening experience of universal brotherhood in action with Krishna American Kirtan singer, Krishna Das. Das, an American Jew from Long Island, singing sacred Hindu mantras in Sanskrit language, KIRTAN CHANTING accompanied by a mixture of traditional Indian Kirtan, is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘narrating and Western instruments, in a Christian church, or telling a story. But Kirtan is most commonly with an audience of Western Hindu converts, applied to the practice of singing/chanting New Agers, and curious onlookers! sacred mantras with the audience joining in Krishna Das says of his own music that he does the chanting and emotion of the occasion. Such not put on shows or set out to entertain: “A chanting is primarily an emotional experience kirtan is a spiritual, meditative practice. And providing the audience with the opportunity to that is completely different from a concert. express themselves through movement, dance, [Chanting] is something I share with people. praising Divinity, but primarily singing along When I sing, I am sharing my practice, and with the song leader or ‘Kirtankara’. Kirtan is an they are doing the practice themselves while we essential feature of ‘Bhakti’ or ‘Devotional’ Yoga chant together.” and it is becoming very popular in the West due This is where Krishna Das found the purpose to the efforts of a range of Western performers of his music, and the same could be said for all putting a new twist on an ancient Indian practice of chanting mantras. He believes it was religious practice. meant to take him somewhere—not to fame or Kirtan, or musical mantra-chanting, was first fortune, but to enlightenment. Music and Bhakti popularized in America by Krishna Das (Jeffrey Yoga are the vehicles of his transcendence. Kagel) in the 1990s following his travels in India “It’s a repetition of mantras, the names of your in the 1970s and his devotion to his Hindu own inner being. The practice is to repeat Guru, Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji). He was those names and to pay attention and have an referred to as the “Rockstar of Yoga” by the experience of quieting down and opening up.” Grammys when he was nominated for a 2013 Krishna Das thinks the problem with our Grammy Award. His powerful baritone voice culture is that we’re always looking for happiness and skilful playing of the traditional Indian from external sources. He believes that kind of harmonium, accompanied by a band playing a happiness is fleeting:

16 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 “Everything is changing all the time and one has Hip Hop and traditional Hindu mantras.  to find peace of mind within.” – Compiled by the Editor. Special thanks to Dr Preet Singh for his advice on the Sikh section of MODERN FORMS OF MANTRA this article. Other modern performers of Kirtan and the chanting of mantras in Sanskrit language with modern melodies include: German singer, Deva Premal, her English From subatomic particles to galactic partner on guitar, Mitten, with the traditional clusters, nature gives evidence flute of Indian performer, Manose. Julia Elena, with her own style utilizing of a magnificent balance like a great synthesizers and guitars. orchestra blending countless keynotes Why not also check out on You Tube the beautiful singing of American Sikh Kirtan and into the Music of the Spheres. New Age singer, Snatam Kaur, especially when Listening to this music even for a she is working with German-born American pianist/composer Peter Kater. moment, we realize that disharmonies Australian devotees of Kirtan will know and will eventually blend within the greater love the music of Gold Coast band, Sacred Earth, which combines flutes, recorders, electric harmony as a natural progression in the and acoustic guitars, and synthesizers with their development of the Whole… own beautiful versions of Hindu mantras. – Sunrise Magazine, Oct/Nov 2002. For the really adventurous, try the band, Shanti People, which features a combination of Rap/

Mantra singers, Deva Premal and Miten.

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 17 AUM (OM): THE WORD – Graeme Edge. This garden universe vibrates complete. Some make of it a sound so sweet. Vibrations reach on up to become light, And then through gamma, out of sight.

Between the eyes and ears there lie, The sounds of colour and the light of a sigh. And to hear the sun, what a thing to believe. But it's all around if we could but perceive.

To know ultra-violet, infra-red and X-rays, Beauty to find in so many ways. Two notes of the chord, that's our full scope. But to reach the chord is our life’s hope. And to name the chord is important to some. So, they give it a word, And the word is AUM. - Graeme Edge, England.

The seven-note musical scale is meant to model the hidden side of the macrocosmic design, the universe ruled by mathematical harmonies of music. The [musical] scale structure implies that the universe emerges from absolute divinity, descends through a seven-stage celestial hierarchy, and returns to absolute divinity. – M.S. Schneider, A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe (1995).

18 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 Australian Aboriginal Music: Like the players and listeners. Dance is the Aboriginal art, Aboriginal music unites same in observing the natural world and consciousness with the invisible laws and reproducing it as accurately as possible energy patterns in nature. The didgeridoo inducing an identity with the natural world is perhaps the oldest musical instrument and the powers inherent in a particular on earth. place or animal. Traditionally, a player would go into nature Initiated aboriginal people employ hunting and listen intensely to animal sounds, and and fishing methods that are grounded in natural sounds of all types like the wind, spiritual awareness. They know that the thunder, trees creaking, water running. sound of clapping sticks near the water will The essences of these sounds are played as draw fish. These tapered sticks are tuned accurately as possible within the droning by varying their thickness and density to sound of the didgeridoo. make sounds that attract various species of The observation of nature requires an fish. empathy enhanced by the sound of Aborigines in some areas are known to music inducing a trance-like state in communicate with dolphins which help

SOUND AND VIBRATION IN TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES: AUSTRALIA AND AFRICA

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 19 them to attract particular species of fish on particular days. They scoop the water We are constantly surrounded by into their hands and clap them together rhythmically, sending a signal to nearby a sea of cosmic music which is the dolphins, which drive a school of fish toward Aborigines’ waiting nets. consequence of the harmoniously Another method used by older initiates, is vibrating aggregated life atoms the capacity to catch the gaze of an animal and temporarily hypnotize it, preventing it which form the vehicles of spiritual from fleeing. Always Aboriginal people are forces underlying manifestation. very careful only to take from nature what they need to survive and there are strict Perhaps also the beautiful colours rules from the Dreamtime Laws about how and with whom food is to be shared. and configurations of nature Often the hunter only ends up with the are other manifestations of the least of the hunt or catch of the day. Specific animals and fish can only be hunted in symphonic harmonies constantly particular areas in accordance with the singing about us. From the natural Dreamtime stories of their creation and the special powers latent in particular localities. harmonies of a brook to the complex Music and Chanting in Traditional Africa: Music and chanting is a form of rhythms of a classical symphony prayer in the African spiritual tradition. the various forms of music we hear Songs are made specifically for certain natural forces, or even certain ancestors. are translations through and on our Songs can be used to invite certain plane of being of the music which natural essences to form a unity with someone or something so that you can fills the universe.” manifest these essences or ancestors – Mysteries of Music: Part 1: and pass along messages from them. The Ancient World (2017); Dancing, drumming and sonic vibration Theosophy Downunder Website. or frequencies can similarly invite natural essences and ancestors.  – Compiled by the Editor.

20 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 THE SEVEN JEWELS OF WISDOM REINCARNATION, KARMA, HIERARCHIES, SELF-BECOMING, EVOLUTION, TWO PATHS, KNOWLEDGE OF THE SELF

any times over Involution (‘Nivritti’) – of the ages spiritual Humanity and the Earth. knowledge has • Two Paths of Spiritual Mbeen summarized for us lesser Development: The Path of mortals. Such epitomes are the Compassion (‘Amrita-Yana’) and result of the experiences and The Path of Oneself (‘Pratyeka- teachings of those brave souls Yana’): choices along the spiritual who have ventured into the Path. Good and Evil, Selflessness inner realms of consciousness and Selfishness. and returned with their • Knowledge of the Self (‘Atma observations. We know that Vidya’): what do we actually these soul-adventures date back With this issue mean by the ‘Self’. How did the to ancient Egypt and beyond: One become the Many? Neoplatonic philosopher we start a new Let’s examine each beautiful Iamblicus (250-330 AD) refers Jewel in order and perhaps you to the Egyptians as having such series on the will be encouraged to continue a system "concerning principles your own researches. This and the Supreme cause of basic teachings of study will fill many lifetimes so things." don’t despair of the difficulties One modern summary is the Theosophy: involved! We have many books Seven Jewels of Wisdom: The in our Theosophical libraries and Seven Jewels are listed below in The Seven Jewels bookshops in Melbourne and order from the least to the most around the world to assist you difficult to understand. They are of Wisdom with this endeavour. All that we not to be taken as read – rather can do here is to encourage you you should examine them to begin your own treasure hunt carefully, sceptically even, before (‘Karma’). for these invaluable “Jewels” you even begin to accept them as • Hierarchies (‘Lokas and yourselves! your true keys to understanding. ‘Talas’) – Reality has many levels The Seven Jewels are: through which we progress. These jewels are a kind of • Reincarnation-Re- • Self-Becoming (‘Swabhava’) perceptual atlas to help us Embodiment (‘Punarjunman’) – the essential nature of each find our way through a highly – changing forms/the person and entity and their complex and yet unutterably indestructibility of the human inbuilt capacity to grow in self- simple universe. They are spirit. awareness. practical, influencing our ethical • The Law of Cause and Effect • Evolution(‘Pavritti’) and perceptions and behavior for the

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 21 good over the long-term of soul for them — must end," even growth — and what could be if subsequently reembodied. more deeply practical in solving "But for those who have found individual and world problems? the still point of eternity, Using these jewels, we can around which all — including unlock some of the mysteries of themselves — revolves, the universe, better understand everything is acceptable as it is; ourselves and others, and indeed, can even be experienced harmonize our thoughts with the as glorious and wonderful." — functioning of the universe. Quoted in Sylvia Cranston and Let’s examine each beautiful Joseph Head, Reincarnation: jewel over the course of our next The Phoenix Fire Mystery, p. 22. few issues starting with: The list of well-known people in the West who accepted 1. Reincarnation: The first the concept of reincarnation jewel, Reincarnation or is enormous, including: Reimbodiment, concerns the Plato, Marcus Aurelius, indestructibility of centers of Paracelsus, Henry More, consciousness, though their Alfred Lord Tennyson, Edgar outward forms may change. It Allen Poe, Herman Melville, has been compared to an actor Gustav Mahler, H. G. Wells, who, in one role, is "killed" on and George Santayana. stage, but then changes his As Benjamin Franklin costume to take on another said: “When I see nothing NEXT role. In Egypt reincarnation annihilated and not a drop of was accepted as transformation, water wasted, I cannot suspect ISSUE: symbolized by the Benu bird or the annihilation of souls, or The Seven Phoenix arising from the ashes believe that [God] will suffer Jewels of to new life. the daily waste of millions of The American mythologist, minds ready-made that now Wisdom: Joseph Campbell, suggests exist, and put Himself to the Karma: that there is a deeper level of continual trouble of making The Law our being: "those who have new ones. . . . I look upon of Action identified themselves with the death to be as necessary to the mortal body and its affections constitution as sleep. We shall and will necessarily find that all is rise refreshed in the morning.” Reaction painful, since everything — — Ibid., p. 271 A general belief in reincarnation might encourage people towards ethical behavior if they realized that they would be the people they deserved to be in their next life. It is also food for thought that we may meet our friends - and enemies - in another lifetime!  – Compiled by the Editor with thanks to Stefan Carey.

22 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 When I say words that knock at your mind, when a speaker knocks BETTER HEALTH at your heart, it is done with a thought, it is done QI GONG: exercise for the spirit, mind, and body: Are you with a feeling, it is done interested in Qi Gong, a Chinese form of exercise for the body, with knowledge; and the mind and spirit, a bit like Tai Chi? Then come along to weekly sessions conducted by our friend Carmella Flescher, a Qi Gong portals of understanding Teacher trained in China, free of charge near the Pagola in the park fly open wide, and ideas in Rosanna Street, Carnegie, Melbourne, every Monday from 10- 11am. No Need to book, just turn up. Wear comfortable clothing. It and thoughts enter can be done standing or sitting. If you want to sit BYO chair. Ring into your minds, into 0400942613 for further information. your souls. The right SLEEP AND DEPRESSION: Waking up just one hour earlier knock has been given could reduce a person’s risk of major depression by 23%, suggests a sweeping new genetic study. The study of 840,000 people, by … When you have built researchers at University of Colorado Boulder and the Broad these words of power Institute of MIT and Harvard, represents some of the strongest evidence yet that chronotype—a person’s propensity to sleep at a into yourself, you pass certain time—influences depression risk. It’s also among the first unchallenged. If you studies to quantify just how much, or little, change is required to influence mental health. As people emerge, post-pandemic, from have not evolved to the working and attending school remotely—a trend that has led many point, or are unworthy, if to shift to a later sleep schedule—the findings could have important implications. Previous observational studies have shown that night you have not built them owls are as much as twice as likely to suffer from depression as early into your soul, you are risers, regardless of how long they sleep. But because mood disorders themselves can disrupt sleep patterns, researchers have had a hard challenged, and stopped, time deciphering what causes what. and back you go. For those wanting to shift themselves to an earlier sleep schedule, - G de Purucker, the study offers this advice: “Keep your days bright and your nights The Wind of the Spirit dark,” … “Have your morning coffee on the porch. Walk or ride your bike to work if you can, and dim those electronics in the evening.” More information available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2780428

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 23 The Egyptian hieroglyph for ‘Ren’ or ‘The Name’.

‘REN’ (‘THE NAME’): THE POWER OF SPEECH

– Normandi Ellis. us in visible and invisible ways. With each repetition of a word, the sound vibrations en means "the Name" and represents attach to a name or object, and the words gain the power of speech. One of the most power through repetition. That is why Hindu powerful spiritual bodies on the mental chanting, which uses 108 mala beads, is so Rplane, it uses the creative force of voice effective. Ancient priests chanted their prayers vibration. The hieroglyphic image of a mouth and incantations -- literally "singing in" the above rippling water says it all. Religious energy of the Divine. This idea of enchantment philosophy tells us that the genesis of the world involves using the breath and a tone and vocal began with the voice of God moving across pattern that dials in the vibratory energy. the abyss. In the daily human realm as well, we In a literary sense, the sounds of the words have discovered that the words we speak create bind the listener to a story. In a magical sense, powerful vibrations and have an impact upon the recitation of a "spell" binds the energy of our environment. the Divine and the Heart of the speaker within In his book The Hidden Messages in Waterthe a particular place or within an individual. renowned Dr. Masaru Emoto demonstrated Some of my earliest childhood memories were this transformation by using magnetic of my mother reading to me each night. I lay resonance analysis to record either beautiful my head on her chest to hear not only her heart or disfigured molecular formations that were but her words. She literally spellbound me produced depending upon words spoken when I was less than two. The only way I would pleasantly or discordantly into the water. eat those green beans was if she was reading Words offer powerful magic. Words speak to me poetry. My mouth dropped open into the

24 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 breathy oh! While I listened, she scooped the changing one's name strongly changes the food into my mouth. She fed me on poetry! vibration of the individual. Poetry was a magical incantation – the proper Both Jews and Egyptians believed that words, the proper sequence, the proper intent. naming and name vibration kept the universe When a religious person speaks of "heeding in order. The chaotic forces ruled lower the call," he or she means that the voice of vibrations and the angelic forces were found the Divine has called them and drawn them in higher vibrations. Says religious studies toward it. Dr Helen Schucman penned A professor Nicolaus Benjamin Pumphrey in his Course in Miracles by heeding that call when dissertation Names and Power: "The names she heard a voice that identified itself as Jesus. of the angels, gods, and the stranger (in the It commanded that she take dictation, saying, Genesis story) were, however, kept a secret in "This is a course in miracles. It is a required order to maintain the structure of all existence course. Only the time you take it is voluntary." because a lesser power could gain the name In just such a way, the angel Gabriel appeared and disrupt the order of the universe." to the illiterate Muhammad and commanded Egyptian gods, goddesses, and all children had him, "Recite." Thus, began the Quran in an oral multiple names. Some of them were secret tradition. names given to them by their mothers. Many traditions kept secret the true Those names were hidden in their bodies, name of God as a protection against safe from anyone who might wish to attain anyone usurping that name's divine power over the individual -- even their power. Genesis 32 tells us that Jacob own siblings. A myth of Isis and Ra found wrestles with a messenger of God, in the Turin Papyrus recounts the way in demanding that he bless him. Each which Isis learned the God's secret name fights the other, insisting on hearing and so gained his solar power. Even in his name. In the end, the throes of death and the near death Jacob tells the angel of all life-forms should he die, Ra was his name (which reluctant to divulge his true name to means "Follower"), his healer. Why? Because once Isis and the angel changes learned it, her magical power over life Jacob's name to Israel and death became as strong as his. (meaning "Wrestler In the end, the two of them withdrew with God"). Conversely, behind a cloud where he divulged when Jacob demands his secret name and was healed. This the messenger's name story may refer to another Egyptian in turn, the messenger description of the first creative power withdraws and of the universe. It claims: "My name disappears. For those is Heka." In other words, "Magic is who know numerology, my name." A magician might declare the difference between The himself so by claiming that as his secret the vibrations of Jacob Egyptian name, thus aligning with the co-creative as a 13/4 and Israel as Goddess: energy of the universe. a 28/10/1 is dramatic. Isis Isis, of course, already knew the secret name The number four of Ra. She had magically conjured the creature indicates struggles that bit him. "The Mistress of Words of Power" against limitations; the was bequeathed her magical ability by the number one indicates god Thoth, who created the entire cosmos in a leader. Obviously his cauldron wherein all beings -- divine and

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 25 human -- were magically and mathematically themselves. When spoken aloud the sound created. By having Ra divulge his name to her, vibrations set the magic of the matter in Isis received divine affirmation of their similar motion, yet still hid the true meaning from abilities to invoke on multiple levels in Heaven profane ears. and on Earth. Just as Jesus said "The Father and I are One" (consider the numerical power One of the most profound uses of name power and unity of One) so did the ancient Egyptians allows the dead to pass through the neterworld. assert in the Book of the Dead, "God is my It affirms the cycle of transformation and the name. I do not forget this name of mine." understanding of our shared consciousness The vibrations of the words in the ancient texts with the Creator. Speaking the names of the was so important that the lector-priests, who dead as we pass them in the cemetery offers may have sung the incantations to the Divine a powerful prayer on behalf of the departed. thousands of times in a temple, were required After the tragedy of 9/11, the priestesses of the to carry the sacred scroll of hymns and to read Temple of Isis in Los Angeles, an affiliate of from it exactly. They were not allowed to rely the International Fellowship of Isis, gathered on memorization, as that might together through a call sent out actually create a misstep and by the late Arch-High Priestess, "dispell" the Divine Energy. The Laura Janesdaughter. Using text lector-priest was considered one from my book Awakening Osiris, of the most powerful magicians we dedicated ourselves to pray in the temple. Written spells of for and invoke by name the soul protection and healing were kept of every individual who died in in divine storerooms to be copied the incidents of that day. The onto Papyrus. Some copies were Fellowship of Isis retains in its dissolved in water to concoct a archives a copy of that ritual for magical healing drink, or they those wishing to perform similar were tucked into amulets worn on memorial rites. the body. The texts of the temple Perhaps a connection exists libraries were zealously guarded, between the Egyptian hieroglyph and many an ancient Egyptian ‘Ren’ and the oracular rune stones teacher refused to let his words be copied of the Vikings. The rune was a sacred image, down. like the hieroglyph, which telegraphed a whole The Nag Hammadi gnostic text The Apocalypse constellation of meanings. There may indeed of Peter summed it up succinctly when Jesus be something to the twelfth-century legend advised Peter by saying, "Words are a mystery, that an Egyptian princess named Scota was Guard the words you hear! Keep them secret; sent into hiding, thus becoming the namesake do not tell anyone, for they are not for this of her adoptive country. It is for this Egyptian time, but for the future." These Sacred words, princess that Scotland was named. According the text warned, must remain secret. In profane to cultural Anthropologist Ralph Blum, the hands, on profane lips, their true meanings word rune meant "a secret thing, a mystery." vanish. The prohibition against taking the Like the sacred hieroglyphs, runes were used in Lord's name in vain derives from those Celtic rituals of healing, protection, enlivening, priests who used their spiritual knowledge fertilizing, and carrying the dead into the next for baser means. Perhaps the gift of tongues, realm. or glossolalia, which is speaking unknown In certain traditions, including the Hebrew language while in trance, may preserve the language, the vowels of a name are considered vibrational intensity of the powerful words the sacred soul of a name, the breath of the

26 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 name. That is why Egyptians did not write with vowels. Those breathy sighs were kept sacred, to be heard only between mother and child, or creator and creature. Sound and colour are made of Numerologists also identify the vowel number in combination as the soul urge, or authentic energy waves, vibrations that self. Each name you were called in your lifetime -- your childhood names, pet names, originate in the primeval Fire married names, nicknames, endearments, roll calls, and so on -- resonates to a different (‘Fohat’). They reverberate in named energy. The numerology of your name becomes a kind of destiny. For example, I the human Fiery (Spiritual), Fine was not given a middle name by my parents. None appears on my birth certificate, yet I (Subtle) and Solid (Physical) was carried home from the hospital, my older brother, upon seeing me, exclaimed that he had bodies. Our solid bodies use a sister named Normandi ------. Like a fairy godbrother, in this case he gave me a middle sensors which are different name to reveal my hidden potential that very few people know. The energy of that little- from the sensors of our fine known name is hard to live up to, but it carries with it the vibration of great success after many energy bodies, where colour trials. Most people would prefer the success without the trials, frankly. Taking on a new and sound can be perceived name changes your resonance, which changes your identity. Your street names, the names of simultaneously as ‘colour-tone your pets, your business name, even the pet name you call your cat offers a different energy radiations’. In the Solid World for your life. ‘Ren’ always reminds us to find our resonance, some of the vibrations we to speak our truth. The "Opening the Mouth" ceremony was an important rite of perceive as light, and some as transformation that allowed the soul to affirm, pray, invoke, and thank-- especially thank. In sound. the Sanskrit, chanted Mantras meant breathing with the om sacred vowels. In the Hebrew - Roza and Margarita Riaikkenen, Creator alphabet, those unwritten vowels became and Creators (2018). flames of light illuminating each word. In a meditative state, as you pray slowly, begin to see every word as a flame igniting a fire, or as incense curling from your lips. "Say my name that I may live," says the Coffin Text. 

- Hermandi Ellis, Hieroglyphic Words of Power: Symbols for Magic, Divination & Dreamwork, 2020, Pages: 188-193. Reproduced with Permission.

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 27 THE VIRTUE OF COURAGE

How courageous it is for Souls to face themselves! To see uncertainty with powerful certitude; To know strength comes from the inner nature: Fine qualities within the soul – never without. Build courage from your own secret depths.

If the roots are deep, when fierce winds blow, The leaves and soil may scatter, but the tree Still holds its steadfast grip.

When the soul can feel its own strength, Trepidation scatters like dark clouds, While a courageous sun finally breaks through, Shedding its golden rays of spiritual light.

- James Feinstein, California, USA.

28 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY (PASADENA) NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Australia: Vas: Rebirth: Soul Becomes Form; and many Zoom Online Meetings: Tuesday nights others. Check them out at: from 7.30pm, Melbourne time. Please check theosophydownunder.org/ifensterl.php?./library/ our Theosophy Downunder Website at: www. theosophydownunder.org for the latest information New Books in the Melbourne Library: W. and list of meetings available on Zoom. Please Strehlow: Hildegard of Bingen’s Spiritual Remedies; email: [email protected] if you want to A.Trevor Barker (Compiler) The Mahatma Letters be put on our mailing list for the weekly Zoom to A.P.Sinnett. Second & Revised Edition; Manuel meetings. Komroff The Apochrypha; Geddes and Grosset: Celtic Mythology. Melbourne Library News – from Amanda Theosophical Book of Rooke: Theosophical Pasadena Library Centre is at 664 Glenhuntly Rd, Caulfield South, Melbourne. the Month: The Ocean of The library has a collection of ‘hard-to-get’ Theosophy provides a concise books and magazines on spirituality, religion, yet comprehensive survey of theosophy and occultism. Books are available the basic tenets of theosophy. for loan to regular attendees at our meetings and Written with the beginner in U3A students attending the Ancient Wisdom mind, it clarifies such topics as course (Tuesday Zoom meetings) or by mail to the sevenfold nature of man, members. Depending on the situation with the reincarnation and karma, Covid health emergency, the library is open on dangers of psychic practices and pitfalls of pseudo- Tuesday mornings from 9.30am to 12.30pm and occultism, earth’s sevenfold being, cosmic and Wednesday mornings from 10am to 1pm. The terrestrial cycles, after-death states, the existence library catalogue is available on our website at: of highly advanced human beings (Mahatmas), www.theosophydownunder.org and many more. Here is knowledge based upon evidence and experience, written with brevity and New on our Website: Several new articles depth. 209 pages with an index. have been added to our website under the ‘Theosophy Downunder Library of Articles and International Headquarters: Lectures’ menu. Including the following articles The Theosophical Society, Pasadena, has a by Tony Downey: Gaining and Avoiding; Why?; comprehensive website, www.theosociety.org Winners and Losers; Articles by Jenny Pignataro: where a wide selection of online publications, Pilgrimage: the Mystic Journey; One God or Many? information regarding the basic concepts, Where Did the Idea of One God Come From?; objectives and history of the society can be Aims of the Theosophical Society Pasadena; Luke viewed. M. Ironside: The Three Fundamental Propositions of the Secret Doctrine; Don Shepherd: How Long American Section: Are the Cycles Mentioned in Theosophy?; Ruth The online magazine, The Spiral Houthuijzen: Organ Donation, Euthanasia, Suicide Path, is available on the website www. and Abortion: Some Theosophical Perspectives; theosocietyamsec.org : Northwest Branch: A Nhilde Davidson: Thoughts on Christmas; Nivard wide range of articles and all editions of the

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 29 Theosophy Northwest View newsletter are Think the World is Getting Worse, listed at: www.theosophy-nw.org Think Again: Think the world is getting worse? You’re wrong: the British Section: world is, for the most part, getting better. But 58% For all back copies of the newsletter, Compass, of people in 17 countries that were surveyed in 2016 and general information go to thought the world is either getting worse or staying www.theosophical.org. the same rather than getting better. Americans were Contact Pat and Sandy Powell at: even more glum: 65% thought the world is getting [email protected] worse and only 6% thought it was getting better. The uncontroversial data on major global trends in this German Section: book will persuade you that this dark view of the For general information: www.theosophie.de prospects for humanity and the natural world is, in large part, badly mistaken. World population will The Netherlands Section: peak at 8 to 9 billion before the end of this century For general information: http://theosofie.net as the global fertility rate continues its Swedish Section: fall from 6 children www.theosociety.org/pasadena/sverige/index.htm per woman in 1960 For online literature in Swedish visit: to the current rate http://theosociety.org/pasadena/sverige/ of 2.4. The global teosofiskabokforlaget/index.htm absolute poverty rate has fallen from 42% in 1981 to 8.6% today. Satellite data show that Exploring Theosophy: forest area has been expanding since 1982. Natural the Synthesis of Science, Religion and resources are becoming ever cheaper and more Philosophy: This website, maintained by David abundant. Since 1900, the average life expectancy Pratt, features a wide range of topics relating to has more than doubled, reaching more than 72 theosophy: http://davidpratt.info years. Of course, major concerns such as climate change, marine plastic pollution, and declining Theosophy World News: wildlife populations are still with us, but many the best way to keep up with developments of these problems are already in the process of in the world-wide theosophical movement being ameliorated as a result of the favourable inclusive of all Theosophical Societies is to read economic, social, and technological trends that are this quarterly website at: documented in a new book by Ronald A. Bailey and https://theosophy.news/issue/theosophy-news- Marian L. Tupy: Ten Global Trends Every Smart worldwide-2nd-quarter-2021-396.html Person Should Know. The CATO Institute, 2020. 

South African Section: Copies of the South African section newsletter, Contact, are available by emailing the editor Music gives a soul to the and National Secretary, Alice Yetman: alice. [email protected] universe, wings to the mind, Contact person in the greater Durban area: Grant Holliday, [email protected] flight to the imagination, and life Contact person in the Western Cape: Dewald to everything. – Plato Bester: [email protected]

30 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 BOOK REVIEWS

The Goddess Re-Awakening: ple as a whole, or on socio-polit- introduction that disagreements The Feminine Principle Today. ical concerns. and differences can enrich our Compiled by Shirley The anthology asks the question understanding, ''the theory itself Nicholson. ''what does the return of the sa- is not sacred. It is our ongoing Published by Quest Books, cred female mean to us today?'' process of building the theory 1989. Audio Book, 2014. There is no attempt to provide that becomes a sacred act.'' Reviewed by Niamh O’Byrne. definitive answers. Indeed, some The ancient concept of a female Available from our Melbourne writers contradict each other. creator of all life is fast regaining Library. Merlin Stone points out in the popularity. As Phyllis Chesler in Shirley Nicholson's compilation her ground-breaking feminist The Goddess Re-awakening: work, Women and Madness, The Feminine Principle Today observes ''Goddesses never brings together a rich diversity of die. They slip in and out of the views on the topic of reclaiming world's cities, in and out of our the sacred female, or feminine dreams, century after century, principle in the world. Published answering to different names, in 1989, it still constitutes a fer- dressed differently, perhaps tile source of ideas and insights even disguised, perhaps idle and designed to promote further dis- unemployed, their official altars cussion. Most contributors are abandoned, their temples feared women, some are men. Some ex- or simply forgotten.'' plore historical sacred imagery, For three thousand years, most while others focus on reverence mainstream world religions have for the Goddess, on the female worshipped a patriarchal God. psyche and the feminine princi- But before that, Goddess worship

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 31 dates back tens of thousands of Jungian archetypes and posing years. The subordinate position the intriguing question ''is the of women is seen to be neither animus obsolete?'' They argue natural nor divinely ordained. that the concept of the ani- (Riane Eisler points out that the mus, the 'inner masculine' in a problem is the 'dominator' model woman's psyche, was shaped in of society that is patriarchy, and part by Jung's wife, the analyst not men as a sex). Emma Jung, and that wider Interestingly, the return or availability of her own expo- reawakening of the Goddess sition might have assuaged echoes the ancient mythology feminist hostility toward, and of the Mother Goddess De- mistrust of the theory. Emma meter, associated with nature, Jung's view was that, for many and her daughter Persephone women, ''the problem is not too (actually the Kore maiden much animus, but too little''. It aspect of herself). Persephone is the contributors' belief that is abducted by Pluto and the animus can be positive, carried off to the Underworld. helping a woman to achieve Enraged and grief-stricken, individuation, to assert her- Demeter demands, and being self, and to realise her creative a powerful Goddess is grant- potential. ed, the return of her daughter. For Geoffrey Hodson, the Their joyful seasonal reunion Goddess is infinite compassion, was cause for widespread cel- embodied in the 'World Mother' ebration in the ancient world. whose incalculable value lies It is worth noting that the in comforting and absolving Nature Goddess is not always humanity. In a similar vein, gentle and benevolent, but James M Somerville introduces capable of erupting, without the figure of Maria Avatara, the warning, with all of the rage Christian Madonna. It is clear of a neglected and woefully that the devotion of many Cath- abused Deity. Joan Chamber- olics to Mary does have a frankly lain Engelsman explores the worshipful aspect. The deifica- patriarchal schism between tion of Maria Avatara is a natural Demeter's grieving and raging progression from that devotion. aspects, which have been split Patricia Hunt Perry explores the into the 'mater dolorosa' and idea of the Wise Woman in the the figure of the archetypal Western tradition. Ferociously ‘witch’. She reminds us of just maligned, the Wise Woman, how intertwined these emo- tions can be in the experience of grief. Demeter represents both the positive and negative Picture: Cycladic statue of sides of the maternal. Mother Goddess from Amor- Mary Ann Mattoon and Jen- gos. circa 2200 BCE. 152 cm nette Jones focus on aspects of tall. National Archaeological the female psyche, revisiting Museum, Athens, Greece.

32 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 especially the old Wise Woman, she has both positive and nega- the sacred female is sure to find possesses tremendous occult tive aspects, she is for the most something that resonates. knowledge, with an understand- part benevolent and protective. In the end, perhaps as Merlin ing of the hidden powers of The Navajo Goddess Changing Stone suggests, the Goddess is the universe, and of plants and Woman brings order to the multiplicity. Multifaceted, com- animals. The Wise Woman is a world which had been in chaos. plex in all her aspects yet unified healer. She has the miraculous ability to and whole, she is not removed Another healer, the Egyptian reach old age then continuously from us. She is immanence. Goddess Isis is the subject rejuvenate. For the Sioux, White Perhaps the final word should go of Kathleen Alexander-Ber- Buffalo Calf Woman represents to the compiler, Shirley Nichol- ghorn's work. Known as the cosmic knowledge and energy, son. Her own contribution 'The Divine Physician, Isis is the while, She Who Pushes Them Way of the Uncarved Block' is a personification of the life force. Over the Bank, presides as celes- plea for a quieter, more reflective She is infinitely merciful and tial judge of souls, pushing them and compassionate way of being wise. She has created the cos- towards their destiny. in the world - an eschewing of mos, and, in death, all return This anthology is so far-ranging the decisive, assertive, aggressive, to her. This section of the book in its scope it is impossible to competitive and hyper-individu- includes a prayerful meditation do it justice here. In the pages alistic ways which are so valued invoking the healing powers of of this book there are spirited and encouraged in the West in this great Goddess. debates about the validity or particular, and which are grad- 'Oya, Black Goddess of Africa' otherwise of rigidly demarcat- ually and surely destroying the is introduced by Judith Glea- ed, dualistic sex role stereo- Earth. She advocates a balancing, son. Worshipped by the Yoruba typing, and about the male/ a quiescence, a stillness, where people of Africa then taken by female partnership. There is a ''boundaries blur into a oneness''. slaves to Brazil, the Caribbe- discussion of the Jewish deity She draws upon the illuminating an and the United States, Oya the Schechina (Light of Cre- wisdom of Lao Tzu (''Knowing is still honoured to this day. ation) and the Gnostic Sophia of the Male but staying with the Associated with tornadoes and (feminine Soul Wisdom). The Female''). The goal, and the Way, lightning, her name, translated great pantheon of Buddhist is unity, a sympathetic merging as ''she tore'', gives some idea of and Hindu female deities is with all. Lao Tzu says of The the energy this Goddess brings revealed, including the Great Way : to life. Nonetheless, she is a Mother and Saviour Tara, ''There was something complete benefactor of women. Prajnaparamita, The Perfection and nebulous; Nancy C Zak brings to light the of Wisdom, Sarasvati with her Which existed before Heaven matriarchal traditions of the lute, the ever-merciful Kuan and Earth; First Nations people of North Yin, and the wrathful protector Silent, Invisible; America. We learn of Thought Kali. There is an account of the Unchanging, standing as One; Woman, the creator Goddess of lives of the thirteenth century Unceasing, ever-revolving; the Keres of New Mexico. She female mystics, the Beguines. In Able to be the Mother of the has conceived the original plan their writing of ecstatic union World. of creation by her thought. She with the divine, expressed in I do not know its name contains all of life including both sensual terms, there are hints and I call it Tao.'' male and female. For the Hopi, a of a female aspect to their God. Tao te Ching Pueblo people of Arizona, Spider You may not agree with much Chapter XXV Woman is the mother of every- of this compilation but it gives thing. She possesses all knowl- a comprehensive overview of its - Review by Niamh O'Byrne, edge and infinite wisdom. While subject. Anyone interested in Melbourne, Australia.

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 33 Tara, Hindu Goddess of Wisdom.

Here are a few answers to this timeless question from great thinkers of the Western World showing a huge variety of ap- proaches to life, from the out- right hedonistic, to the deeply, and spiritually responsible:

Every Time I Find the Meaning Lama stresses that it is the way • “The art of life lies in taking of Life...They Change It! we react to such suffering that pleasures as they pass and the By Daniel Klein. is the measure of our spiritual keenest pleasures are not in- Published by Text Publishing, learning and progress. tellectual nor are they always 2015. So how do other cultures answer moral!” – Aristippus, 400BC. ISBN: 0143126792. this ultimate question? I recently • “I don’t think that there is Review by Tony Downey. had the great good fortune to much point in bemoaning the Available in our library. read a new book exactly on this state of the world unless there’s subject: Every some way you can think of to At some stage along life’s jour- time I find the improve it. Otherwise, don’t ney, we are all bound to ask meaning of life, bother writing a book – go and ourselves, “Why am I here?”; they change it: find a tropical island and live in “Why do I have to go through all Wisdom of the the sun!” Peter Singer, 1980. these difficult experiences?”, and great philoso- • “Do every act in your life as anyway, “What is the meaning phers on how though it were the very last act of life?” Maybe the best answer to live – by of your life.” – Marcus Aurelius, I ever heard to that question Daniel Klein 150BC. was when the Dalai Lama came (Published by One World, Octo- • “I saw a Divine Being today! to Melbourne a few years back ber 2015, ISBN: 9781780747859) I’m afraid I’m going to have to and he said that the meaning of – this book is now available from revise all my various opinions life was to be: “Constructively our Melbourne library. and books.” – A.J. Ayer, 1970. Happy”. Two little words with a Daniel Klein looks back from • “Live as you were living a power of meaning! the vantage-point of his 80 second time and as though you Everyone wants to be ‘Happy’, years to revisit the wisdom had acted wrongly the first time.” but very few people are prepared he relished in his youth with – Viktor Frankl, 1955. to be ‘Constructive’ in finding a collection of philosophi- Ideas on the meaning of life their way towards their defini- cal gems from the Western are, of course, not restricted tion of happiness! Usually, we World. He briefly sums up the to philosophers. There are as define happiness in terms of per- writings of Epicurus (200BC) many such ideas as there are sonal well-being, material pos- to Jean Paul Sartre, Samuel people walking this earth. This sessions, and our own health. We Beckett, and Viktor Frankl of book gives a general view of are very reluctant to accept the the 20th century. ideas that will hopefully lead inevitability of set-backs in life. Over 20 of these writings are the reader by using courage, We certainly don’t see suffering recognized by introducing such patience, humour, and above as part of our idea of happiness! concepts as Hedonism, Logic, all, common sense, to find out Yet in Buddhist understanding, Humanism, Nihilism, etc... Short and act on discovering positive suffering is inevitable as it is and humorous, each concept is benefits for All.  nature’s way of teaching us im- summed up in a just few lines – – Review by Tony Downey, portant lessons in life. The Dalai an invaluable reference! Melbourne, Australia.

34 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 Picture: The torii gateway to N IN A N the Itsukushima O U Shrine in I T Hiroshima G N IN Prefecture, I IO JA S L G P H Japan. Torii mark LI A the entrance to E E N E Shinto shrines R R L and are iconic

symbols of the L

religion and of

S

Japan to most M

H

people around S the world. I I N H T D O D a U n d Z E N B

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 35 eligion in Japan is dom- being banned for two centuries following a major inated by Shinto (the Christian uprising (Shimabara Rebellion) against ethnic traditions of the the Shogunate (central government) in 1637. RJapanese people) and by Jap- Christianity in Japan today dates from its rein- anese versions of Buddhism. troduction in the second half of the 19th century. According to surveys carried out Although it is largely considered to be a foreign in 2006 and 2008, less than 40% religion with a following of less than 1% of the of the population of Japan iden- population, Christianity has made major contribu- tifies with an organized religion, tions to education, and social reforms in Japan. around 35% are Buddhists, 3% to 4% are members of Shinto SHINTO: Means ‘the way of the Kami, or Gods’. sects and related organizations It is a religious tradition that emerged from pre- and from fewer than 1% to 2.3% historic religious practices and such influences as are Christians. Buddhism, and Chinese religions, but developed Shinto is, in fact, the largest reli- its own distinctive beliefs and practices. The world gion in Japan, practiced by near- view found in Shinto is central to Japanese culture ly 80% of the population, yet and has often been closely related to the national only a small percentage of these identity. identify themselves as "Shinto- ists" in surveys. This is due to Kami or Gods dwelling in heaven but inhabiting the fact that "Shinto" has dif- earth as sacred forces within nature. The notion of ferent meanings in Japan: most Kami is broad and flexible; the Emperor is con- of the Japanese attend Shinto sidered to be ‘manifest Kami’ because of his direct shrines and beseech Kami (gods descent from the Sun Goddess (Amaterasu), and or ‘spirits’) without belonging people with extraordinary spiritual powers as well to Shinto organisations, and as family ancestors are considered to be Kami. since there are no formal rituals to become a member of folk "Shinto", "Shinto membership" is often estimated counting those who join organised Shinto sects. Shinto has 100,000 shrines and 78,890 priests in the country. Two Chinese traditions Confu- cianism and Taoism, have been very influential in the Japanese world-view. Confucianism provided an exaggerated filial Shrines were established at sacred places like piety and loyalty to the state so natural objects – trees, waterfalls, boulders all over typical of Japanese society. Tao- Japan. A basic division in many shrine buildings ism manifest in forms of magic, is between the larger Haiden (oratory or hall of divination and cosmology rather worship) and the smaller Honden (inner sanctuary than the philosophy of Taoism. or main shrine) behind it. Shinto Shrines do not Christianity did not arrive in have statues rather ancient relics such as mirrors Japan until Francis Xavier’s and swords sometimes considered the dwelling mission in 1549. It flourished for places of the Kami. Offerings such as fish and a brief ‘Christian century’ before vegetables are presented to the Kami and eaten

36 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 later. Small shrines to the Kami (Kamidana) are in most Japanese homes. Shinto priests attend the public shrines and present offerings to the Kami and formally mediate between the Kami and the local people. Traditionally each shrine observed the new year, spring, autumn and special festivals honouring the local shrines – all of which formed the religious year for the local people.

Shinto does not have any formal theological systems, favouring instead a sincere reverencing of the kami and respect for ritual purity. Shinto was favoured by the government after the Meiji Chinese practicality and Taoist restoration of the Japanese emperor in 1867 where tradition. A successor of one of it was considered to be a state religion, and the the Buddha’s disciples brought Emperor a manifestation of the Kami on the earth. Buddhism to China and became After WWII Shinto was relegated to equality with the first patriarch and founder of all other religions. The intimate association be- Ch’an Buddhism which later be- tween Shinto and the war effort dampened enthu- came the Zen tradition. The 6th siasm for participation in Shinto, many shrines Patriarch of Ch’an Buddhism, lost their special privileges and land holdings, and Hui-Neng, became the founder priests had to seek employment. However, Shinto of Zen tradition of rejecting is still fundamental to Japanese life even if most scholasticism and preaching the people don’t have a direct affiliation with their possibility of sudden enlighten- local shrine. Shinto has long defined a distinctively ment, Satori, the direct experi- Japanese spiritual tradition, and will continue to ence of enlightenment. do so, both in Japanese culture generally as well as in its influence upon other religions, notably Enlightenment is the unfold- Buddhism and the new religions. ing of the inner mind without attachment. Teachers avoid ZEN BUDDHISM: Buddhism was first brought to academic argument and em- Japan by Korean missionaries in the 6th century phasize meditation and intuitive AD. This was originally opposed by local clansmen wisdom expressed in the pres- until 593 AD when Prince Notoku assumed the ent moment and everyday life. regency of the Empire and officially sanctioned the Sudden Enlightenment meant establishment of Buddhist monasteries. In suc- the idea of progressing by stages ceeding centuries especially under the Tokugowa was rejected. And teachers now Shogunate (1600-1867) Buddhism became the utilized shouts, slaps, questions, dominant faith in Japan with a variety of schools and strange seemingly meaning- which shaped the national character of Japan. less poems (Koans) and antics to trigger enlightenment. Zen Zen (‘Meditation’) became the most famous form has had a major influence in of Buddhism in Japan. Its aim is enlightenment; the West due to the works of the art of transmitting the Buddha mind drawing Zen Masters, DT Suzuki, Allan on Mahayana Buddhism from northern India em- Watts, and the influence of Zen phasizing meditation and the doctrine of Sunyata centres in Hawaii and Califor- (emptiness) and Bodhi (enlightenment) with nia. Zen has found especially

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 37 friendly reception in the West amongst psychotherapists (mindfulness), poets, and artists. “…a human being is somewhat like a sounding board, strung with seven chords like Apollo’s The Enso, symbol of Zen Bud- dhism: a circle that is hand- lyre, across which sweep the winds of eternity, drawn in one or two uninhib- and the combined notes of these chords ited brushstrokes to express a moment when the mind is free produce within him a cosmic symphony – each to let the body create. one of us being a living mystic lyre vibrating in sympathy with the Music of the Spheres.”

- G de Purucker

Komeito, Japan's third largest political party. As of 2018, there were 355,000+ Buddhist monks, priests and leaders in Japan, an increase of over 40,000 OTHER FORMS OF JAPA- compared to 2000. NESE BUDDHISM: Nowadays, NEW RELIGIONS: Japan is unusual in that New the most popular type is Pure Religions number in the hundreds, and total mem- Land Buddhism, emphasizing bership reportedly numbers in the tens of millions. the role of Amitabha Buddha The largest new religion,Soka Gakkai, a Buddhist and promises that reciting the sect founded in 1930, has about 10 million mem- phrase, “Namu Amida Butsu" bers in Japan. Other bizarre examples are: Happy (‘I take refuge in Amida Bud- Science, founded in 1986 and the related, God- dha’) upon death will result in Light Association, whose leader thinks he is the being removed by Amitabha to great super-God, ‘El-Cantare’, and established a the "Western Paradise" or "Pure political party in 2009, The Happiness Realisation Land", and then to Nirvana. Party, which attracted 1 million votes in a national Soka Gokkai’s Pure Land attracted the mer- election! Tokyo chant and farmer classes. Scholars in Japan have estimated that between Headquarters. Another prevalent form of Bud- 10% and 20% of the population belongs to the new dhism is Nichiren religions. As of 2007 there are 223,831 priests and Buddhism, which leaders of the new religions in Japan, three times the was established by number of traditional Shinto priests. This probably the 13th century due to the impact of World War II on Japanese soci- monk Nichiren ety and the previous association of Shinto with the who underlined Imperial Japanese government before WW II. the importance of All the differenttraditions and religions of Japan the Lotus Sutra. interact in Japanese life; so, a person may be married This includes,Soka according to Western style, or in a Shinto shrine, Gokkai, a contro- live his life according to Confucian social teachings, versial denomina- hold some Taoistic beliefs, participate in folk festi- tion whose politi- vals, celebrate Christmas and Valentine’s Day, and cal wing forms the have his funeral conducted in a Buddhist temple! 

38 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 OBITUARY MARJORIE MAUD DOWNEY: 24/6/1929 – 17/6/2021

Long-time friend of our work and wife of Tony Downey, our Bookshop Manager of many years, passed to greater light in June, 2021. Marjorie had an adventurous early life in Shanghai, China, during the 1930s escaping the Japanese invasion of 1937 and travelling on the last ship to leave Shanghai for Australia. Returning to England, Marjorie trained as a nurse/midwife, eventually migrating to Australia in 1972 and marrying Tony in 1980. Together they raised a family and travelled the world after busy professional careers. Marjorie is survived by her son, Charles, step-sons, Brendan and Shaun and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We wish her well on her marvellous journey amongst the stars and look forward to all working together again in future lives. As the ancient Romans would say: “Gaudeat in Astris”, “She rejoices now amongst the stars.” – Andrew Rooke, National Secretary Australasian Section.

LETTERSLETTERS TOTO THETHE EDITOREDITOR How Can I Meditate or Chant a Mantra in this Hectic Modern World? A reader emailed us recently: I find it so hard to meditate or silently chant a mantra (called ‘Japa’ in India) given the hectic pace of the modern world. I live in an apartment and I can’t even find a quiet place for more than 10 minutes. How can I possibly chant to myself daily? [ Editor: I can do no bet- ter than pass along some recent comments by American chanting [Kirtan] master Krishna Das]:

“… Don’t try so hard. One of you get discouraged and then (known in India as ‘Japa’) and the problems is you have great discouragement causes other pay attention to what you are expectations! You say to your- problems. You get unhappy, chanting. We have spent our self: “I am going to sit down. you get depressed, you try whole lives facing the outside I’ll have peace and silence, bliss other things, you don’t sit still. world looking out for, and try- and ecstasy”, and, of course It’s not easy to calm the mind. ing to get, the things we need that just doesn’t happen. So, It not easy to chant silently from the outside and being

MARCH 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 39 attached to the things of the meditating. Turn your phone yourself into something you’re outside world. Wanting this. off. If you catch yourself think- not. None of us can pay atten- Wanting that. ing idle thoughts, just come tion when we try. That’s when back to the name of Divinity we find out how hard it is. But Just sit down and relax and if or Mantra you are chanting. that’s a stage you go through. you are doing your chanting If there’s no one around you It might take 20 years, it might just simply do it and when you could speak it in a low voice. take a minute, but just calmly notice that you are not paying But as you are in an apartment try and be with the Mantra. attention – just come back you could whisper the mantra. Regular practice is what’s nec- and don’t do it for too long Move your lips, your tongue, essary. Even if it’s three min- because you just get tense and and you’ll move part of your utes a day make it a good three you get: ‘Oh, I can’t do this and being and it helps you to con- minutes. Relaxed awareness that’s not going to help’. You centrate and stay aware. not hard angry effort is what’s have to build up little by little, required. Little by little….” five good minutes, three good Little by little. No one is judg- – Krishna Das from Hanging minutes is better than three ing you except you. No sense in the Heart Space Online hours pretending that you are pushing yourself, twisting Satsang, June 3rd 2021.    Soul versus Spirit:

Eugene Harris of Melbourne has written recently on a question that has vexed philosophers throughout the ages:

“The matter of the soul versus A fruit expands and reaches The stem, the spirit which is the spirit crops up eternally perfection and so, also, the the soul’s link and channel in religion, occultism and soul through lives, experiences is life’s vital animation, life’s general theological debate. and its growing ripens towards wants, needs, and survival. Consider the following scheme the peak of its development in Spirit is the channel of the to put the needless duality to divine perfection. divine, feeder of stars and rest: The soul is life’s essen- And as fruit is nurtured on worlds, conduit to Godhead, a tial fruit whose germ is the hidden, clear-waters, so the principal vital in realms both divine spark, whose husk is soul on wisdom from the physical and ethereal. Thus, do the mortal flesh in which it is unseen. stars and worlds come to rise present and whose stem is the Thus are the soul’s juices the from the Source…” spirit from which it is divinely nectar of esoteric wisdom and – Eugene Harris, Melbourne, sprung and nourished. divine visions. Australia.

40 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021 Lockdown Amplifies the Simple Sounds

We have recently received a poetic comment on the latest of many lockdowns in Melbourne which I'm sure reflects the experience of many people in lockdown around the world:

HEAR, HERE!

The long, pandemic stillness of lockdown amplifies the simple sounds of home and surrounds … Tap, tap, tap, teaspoon contacts the porcelain-morning teacup’s rim, Spitter-splatter, pelting rain on our tin roof, such a glorious din. Radio news anthem harks, starkly out on every hour anew, Suburban walks on the racecourse and past the mews. Horses are trotting, pounding and moulding sand on the long dirt tracks, Wet evenings dozing next to the pleasing purring of Miss Pussycat, Patting her fur coat, many colours, mostly blacks. At dusk, alone, sighting the slow crawl of snails, Slowly slithering, not quite silently, crisply crunching their way through bountiful garden greens…

Jennifer Pignataro, Melbourne, Australia.   

Waiting for a Sign

A reader writes that during the latest round of lockdowns in Melbourne, he was walking around rather aimlessly, like most other people grabbing their prescribed two hours of exercise, when he saw a large sign outside a church:

“The sign said: ‘If you’re wait- Don’t wait for a sign. from finding out who you ing for a sign. Well, this is it!’ I Live your life fully and if you truly are? What’s keeping you laughed to myself and thought can’t, then do your best to find from finding that Love that how true these words are for out why. lives within us, that is our True all of us. What is it that’s keeping you Being?”

SEPTEMBER 2021 / «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» 41 TTheosophy Downunder is issued four times per year in March, June, September, and December. • Edited by Andrew Rooke, Melbourne, Australia. Graphic Design and Artwork by Sotiria Galanopoulou, Athens, Greece. • We can be contacted at the Theosophical Society (Pasadena) Library Centre, 664 Glenhuntly Rd., South Caulfield, Melbourne, Victoria 3162, AUSTRALIA. Tel: 0400942613 Email: [email protected] Website at: http://theosophydownunder.org ISSN:1835-5609 (online). • Our international leader is RANDELL C. GRUBB.

42 «THEOSOPHY DOWNUNDER» / SEPTEMBER 2021